Offsite9: Flexus Dance Collective: A Euphoric Happening in partnership with The League of International Misfits
A Euphoric Happening aims to capture euphoric moments through dance, music and visual media embracing themes of healing and togetherness in a double bill event of Euphoria and Visions.
Can you tell us about the starting points of Euphoria? How have your ideas developed?
Euphoria is a new work by Flexus Dance Collective (FDC) Artistic Director Katy Sterran in collaboration with Composer Ni Singh. It is a relevant, timely and audacious new collaborative work created for, by and with the young people of Sterran Touring Company. It ignites meaningful relationships and opportunities across dance and music communities.
Driven out of a period of limitation, repression, confinement and conformity, the work is a creative release of euphoric manifestations, capturing the impact of the previous year on a young generation desperately seeking their euphoric moment. Set against an anarchist musical backdrop composed by Singh, the work not only drives the intense and primal states of euphoria influenced through music but also celebrates and captures the euphoric heritage and culture of the City of Wolverhampton. With a historical reputation for its music scene, Euphoria promotes the music that has exhilarated communities for generations and profiles the talent of the next generation.
What is Visions concerned with?
Visions is a bespoke dance work created with four Wolverhampton schools and colleges as part of the British Art Show 9 Inspired Learning Programme. Led by FDC in partnership with Arts Connect West Midlands, Visions unites young people from across the city in a physical response to visual art created by inspiring young artists from across the Black Country that will be exhibited as part of the event.
How does this piece connect to your wider or previous work?
Katy Sterran is Artistic Director and founder of Flexus Dance Collective. Sterran’s career in choreography spans almost two decades, developing a reputation for outstanding theatrical, cross-art form works. Through an artistic vision based around psychological, physical and emotional challenge, enriched collaborative journeys with her dancers and practitioners from across the arts sector, Sterran’s work consistently takes risks and challenges what it means to engage and connect with contemporary dance in the 21st century.
What do you hope what audiences will take away?
A Euphoric Happening aims to showcase the power, influence and talent of a young generation, promoting togetherness, hope and healing in an event that highlights recovery and creative release through the arts. The event unites the local community past, present and future, and celebrates what can be achieved through cross-discipline collaboration and co-creation.